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1985 Chevrolet Suburban Base 4WD

All Chevrolet Suburban trims (1981–1991) → All Chevrolet Suburban generations →
1985 Chevrolet Suburban – front Unverified
Photo: 1989 Chevrolet R2500 Suburban Scottsdale in Summit White & Grey Metallic, front left, 2026-07-21 by Elise240SX, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Photos show the seventh generation (1981-1991) (1981–1991); trim, color, and model year may differ.
All photo credits
  1. Photo: 1989 Chevrolet R2500 Suburban Scottsdale in Summit White & Grey Metallic, front left, 2026-07-21 by Elise240SX, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  2. Photo: Chevrolet - Suburban - 1980s (M.A.R.C.) by Croquant, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  3. Photo: Chevrolet Suburban Silverado 20 - Flickr - Joost J. Bakker IJmuiden by Joost J. Bakker, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  4. Photo: 1981 Chevrolet Suburban pic1 by Alf van Beem, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
  5. Photo: 1981 Chevrolet Suburban pic2 by AlfvanBeem, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

The 1985 Chevrolet Suburban Base 4WD is a 5.0-liter with an automatic 4-spd and four-wheel drive. It starts at $12,495 MSRP and is rated at 14 mpg combined.

EPA fuel-economy estimates are 12 mpg city and 16 mpg highway (14 mpg combined).

Spec Value
Vehicle
Body TypeSUV
PowertrainGas
Price
MSRP$12,495 ($37,740 *)
Engine
Engine Type5.0L V-8
Displacement5 L
Drivetrain
Drive Type4WD
Transmission
TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd
Fuel Economy
City12 MPG
Highway16 MPG
Combined14 MPG
* Amount adjusted for inflation to 2026 dollars

Similar cars

Rivals to the 1985 Chevrolet Suburban Base 4WD with similar size, power and price from around the same years.

Safety & Recalls

NCAP safety ratings

Not crash-tested by NHTSA for this model year.

Recalls

No recalls on file with NHTSA for the 1985 Chevrolet SUBURBAN.

9 owner complaints to NHTSA for the 1985 Chevrolet SUBURBAN

Owner Complaints

9 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 1985 Chevrolet SUBURBAN (1 mention a crash, 1 a fire, 1 an injury). See all on nhtsa.gov

Most-cited areas
Seats2
Tires2
Engine And Engine Cooling1
Hydraulic1
Power Train1
Service Brakes1
A complaint can cite more than one area.
Most recent complaints
Dec 6, 2000 · Tires
“GOODYEAR DEALER OVERINFLATED TIRES (G159 UNISTEEL P235/85R16), THE DEALER ALSO REPLACED TIRES WITH A DEFECTED BENT RIM AND ANOTHER TIRE APPEARS TO BE A RECAP, THE JOINT WHERE THE TREAD CAP CONNECTS TO…”
Aug 28, 2000 · Tires Crash 1 injury
“PE00 020; WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 60MPH ON HIGHWAY AND HAD A BLOWOUT ON THE REAR TIRE. CONSUMER LOST CONTROL. VEHICLE SPRUNG AROUND AND WENT INTO FOUR LANE TRAFFIC, AND A GASOLINE TRUCK RAN INTO IT. TIRES…”
Dec 4, 1997 · Seats
“SEAT ANCHORS BROKE, CAUSING SEAT TO COLLAPSE. RECALL ON MODELS 1987-1991 (#93V187000), HOWEVER CONSUMERS VEHICLE DOES NOT QUALIFY.”
Oct 10, 1997 · Steering
“LOOSE STEERING COLUMN.”
May 29, 1996 · Suspension
“STRUT ROD LOOSE. *SD”

Complaints are unverified reports submitted to NHTSA by owners. They cover the whole model year, not a specific trim, and a count alone doesn't show how common a problem is.

Source: US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (nhtsa.gov), matched as 1985 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. US-market vehicles only; data cached for up to 7 days.

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